Budget cuts lead to delays in GP courses

GPs trialling the computer system that calculates their score on the quality framework have seen their expected achievement plummet.

The Quality Management and Analysis System (QMAS), being rolled out from this month, enables GPs to check their score and will calculate their final achievement at the end of the year.

Rosemary Smith, GP liaison manager at accountants Sandison Easson in Wilmslow, Cheshire, said GPs who had started using it had seen their points cut in half.

She said one GP in Eastern Cheshire PCT had been in contact saying she suddenly had no points for prescribing ACE inhibitors.

Ms Smith said: 'The GPs using this are very concerned and are not sure at this stage whether there is a mistake or they really aren't entitled to these points.'

Wessex LMCs joint chief executive Dr Nigel Watson said some GPs may have overestimated their points but added there were often obvious reasons for discrepancies in scores: 'When you look at the stuff critically it's lower than you think but when you look at it logically you see why.'

East Cheshire PCT, which was understood to be investigating the discrepancies, was not available to comment.